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French President Emmanuel Macron repeatedly sought Jeffrey Epstein's input on governance, international institutions and policy issues before and after his 2017 election, according to correspondence in newly released US Department of Justice documents.
The documents, part of more than 3 million pages made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, show Epstein claimed in multiple emails that Macron consulted him on topics ranging from science to politics. In one August 30, 2018 message, Epstein wrote that Macron "wants my input on almost everything, institutions, policies, science" and added that the French leader "wants to lead Europe, maybe the world."
In a September 17, 2018 email to World Economic Forum CEO Borge Brende marked confidential, Epstein quoted what he described as a message from Macron about rethinking governance structures and international institutions to address global challenges. The message asked about supporting socio-economic innovations "to promote a more progressive future."
The documents also reveal connections between Epstein and figures in Macron's orbit before his rise to the presidency. An Emirati businessman, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, wrote to Epstein on March 22, 2016 describing a lunch at the Elysee Palace where he had "a good discussion" with Macron, then serving as finance minister, about "business in France."
The nature and extent of any direct relationship between Macron and Epstein remains unclear from the released materials, which show Epstein's perspective but do not include responses from the French president or confirm whether the claimed consultations occurred.
French Patriots Party leader Florian Philippot condemned what he described as Macron's "direct or indirect business relationships" with Epstein during and before his presidency. Writing on social media platform X, Philippot said the connections "endanger French national security" and called for an investigation to be opened.
Macron's office has not issued a statement regarding his name appearing in the Epstein documents.
The latest batch of files also included an email from publicist Peggy Siegal to Epstein mentioning an upcoming trip to Nairobi, Kenya. In the message, Siegal wrote, "I can bring you a little baby or two. Boy or girl? Just like Madonna," in what appears to be a reference to the pop star's adoption of Malawian children.
Documents also contained photographs of Brett Ratner, director of a documentary about Melania Trump, appearing with Epstein and two unidentified women. The images show Ratner embracing the group while seated on a couch, though no date was provided for when the photos were taken. Neither Siegal nor Ratner has commented on the materials.
Democrats have criticized redactions in the released documents as violating transparency laws, while the Justice Department has defended the redactions as necessary to protect victims' identities and privacy.
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